Morningside Heights

This collection of short stories chronicles the life of a Japanese American born and raised on the edge of Harlem after his family moved to New York following internment during World War II. Set largely in the neighborhood near Columbia University, it provides a unique perspective of a multicultural community in transition, navigating the issues of identity, death, the Vietnam War, drugs, military duty, and coming of age as a minority in a time of turmoil. These well-crafted tales are told in Tsujimoto's poetic combination of New York street and elevated diction, reflecting the life of a high school dropout who eventually finds his way to college and a more fulfilling adult life.